Music Information Technology (MIT) Introduction

The convergence of music and computing technologies has increased the creative possibilities and potential for innovative and diverse new music and media. Due to lack of courses in MIT in recognized higher education institutions including IITs and NITs, India is yet to secure a due place in MIT world map of good employment & business scope. A brief review of the support extended to MIT in the Western Countries will help to identify the steps for India to move forward. 25 Universities and Colleges in USA offer Postgrad/Graduate Music Technology / Production courses - http://www.uniguru.com/studyabroad/postgraduate/us-usauniversity-courses/us-usa- music-technology-productioncourses/i/lk./all211/1/programs.html 125 colleges run Undergraduate music technology courses in UK http://www.hotcourses.com/uk-courses/Music-Technology-degreecourses/hc2_browse.pg_loc_tree/16180339/220704/p_type_id/2/p_bcat_id/569/page.htm 5 Universities and Colleges in USA offer Doctoral degree - PhD Music Technology / Production courses- - http://www.uniguru.com/studyabroad/phd/us-usa-universitycourses/us-usa-music-technology-production-courses/i/lk./all211/1/programs.html

Music Information Technology FAQ

1. What is MIT? Vocal Music and music from acoustic instruments like violin, veena, guitar etc are known as analogue music. Music produced by synthesizers; handled by computer, Internet, CD, MP3 gadgets, etc are known as digital music. Music Information Technology MIT is related to all kinds of development and applications of Digital Music based on the science of music. 2. What is Digital Music? Music produced by acoustic instruments and music listened by ears are called Analogue Music. Analogue Music becomes Digital Music through A/D converter. Also Music produced by synthesizers is Digital Music. 3. What is Synthetic Music? Music can be produced electronically without using actual music instruments or human voice. Such a music produced by a computer will be synthetic music. 4. What is Acoustic Music? Music produced by human voice and acoustic music instruments is called Acoustic Music. 5. How can Computer Music be Acoustic Music?

Acoustic Music becomes digital when recorded by a digital device. A computer may be used to remove the defects and improve its final product through editing without introducing any additional synthetic music. Such a music output processed by a computer will still be Acoustic Music. 6. Can music be partly acoustic and partly synthetic? Yes. Computer can add synthetic music to acoustic music and the final product may be partly acoustic and partly synthetic. Most of the modern music belongs to this category. 7. What is Science of Music? For a sound to become music, it must have pitch, duration, loudness and timbre. A study of all these aspects of music, applying the relevant principles and laws of Acoustics is known as the science of music. 8. What are the areas of business and employment scope in MIT? The areas of business and employment scope in MIT are music-programming languages, music application software development for music composing, editing, development of Music education aids and application packages, music related entertainment and advertising industry, multimedia products, internet radio/TV station, and ring tones. 9. What are the advantages to a student opting MIT as open elective. ? At present all kinds of jobs involving music software development and applications related to music & entertainment industry are handled by self trained persons. B.Tech graduates who successfully complete MIT will have a career value addition as well as new field for higher studies & research in the emerging new field of MICROSOUND and potentially developing field of Computational Linguistics

Dr.S.A.Veerapandian A Brief Profile

With several inter-disciplinary research credentials (Music, Physics, Computer, Musical Inscriptions and Ancient Tamil & Sanskrit Texts) including experience in teaching Digital Electronics [Theory & Practical] to U.G & P.G students of Physics in Presidency College, Chennai, devising the syllabus for 'Physics of Music' and 'Computer Music' including the course materials for the University of Madras, and conducting Computer Music Courses in India and Singapore, Dr.S.A.Veerapandian, as Professor, School of Computing, SASTRA University, Thanjavur, is now leading a research team, focusing on Computational Linguistics and Microsound based on the findings in the ancient texts of Tamil & Sanskrit. His publications include the book Ancient Music Treasures- Exploration for New Music (2006) and in Tamil thamiz icaiyiyal puthiya kaNtupitippukaL (2009- Tamil Musicology New Discoveries) The recent issue of Sangeet Natak (Journal published by Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi) had published a major discovery of Musical Threads related to MIT (Music Information Technology) in ancient Tamil texts. His research articles are published in www.musicresearch.in.

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